The twenty-second session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22), the twelfth session of the Conference of the
Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 12), and the first session of the
Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA 1) were held in Bab
Ighli, Marrakech, Morocco from 7-18 November 2016.

The Conference successfully demonstrated to the world that the implementation of the Paris Agreement is underway
and the constructive spirit of multilateral cooperation on climate change continues.

"The UN Climate Change Conference in Marrakech is the crucial next step for governments looking
to operationalize the Paris Climate Change Agreement adopted last year. While the Paris Agreement
gave clear pathways and a final destination in respect to decisive action on climate change, many of
the details regarding how to move forward as one global community in that common direction still need
to be resolved. With the entry into force of the Agreement happening on 4 November – just days
before COP 22 – the dialogue and decisions in Marrakech hold immense potential to accelerate
and amplify the immediate response to the challenge recognized in the Paris Agreement. This meeting
is therefore incredibly important.

I encourage governments of the world to come to COP 22 ready to work together in the same spirit that
produced such success over recent years. I also encourage leaders of public and private sectors and
every citizen to follow the Marrakech Conference proceedings to further understand how you can take
action and contribute to the mounting momentum to meet the interlinked global challenges of climate
change and sustainable development."

Besides moving forward on major negotiation areas, action is taking more space and creating a
tangible bridge between our vision for a brighter future and the implementation of concrete climate
responsible projects on the ground.

We, Parties as well as non-State actors, have here a real opportunity to emphasize this momentum,
celebrate successes and share experiences and learning to set inclusively the path forward for
action.

Finally, COP 22 is also committed to reinforce responsible collaboration between all Parties in
order to achieve a collective shift towards a new sustainable development model.”

H.E. Mr. Salaheddine Mezouar, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Morocco
and President of COP 22, CMP 12 and CMA 1 Read biography (170 kB)
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